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Deficit, lawsuit plagues Mount Joy

A deep deficit, a wrongful death lawsuit and a police chief on leave have people talking about Mount Joy.

Leaders in Mount Joy, Lancaster County said they're dealing with a lot. These issues are affecting businesses and residents.

Mount Joy Borough just settled a federal lawsuit that claims its officers and others used Taser guns on Robert Neill Jr. so many times that he ended up dying. The borough will pay his family $900,000.

"I was just surprised and shocked and saddened by it," said Judy Goodhart, who was shopping in Mount Joy.

As a result of the Taser death, one officer was fired and the police chief is now on paid administrative leave. Borough Manager Scott Hershey said those personnel moves were "not directly related" to that case.

"That piece of the puzzle, so to speak, is still ongoing," Hershey said.

Some residents in Mount Joy said they are wondering what is going on.

"It doesn't make me proud," said Mount Joy resident Rodney Myers.

Borough Council is facing a nearly $400,000 deficit which will likely mean residents will face a tax hike.

"It's a challenge, and you know we're going to work hard to get through it," Hershey said.

One proposal city council is considering involves cutting two police officers and one public works employee. Hershey said those budget cuts could save $180,000.

Some workers in Mount Joy said more cuts could scare off customers.

"Well that's a bad town. I don't want to shop there. I don't want to go there or anything like that, so we have to somehow change that image," Myers said.

Hershey said he is trying to focus on the positive, like the improvements coming to the train station.

Forty years ago, one of the greatest boxing matches in history took place in an unlikely setting: the capital of the Philippines. Muhammad Ali's epic win over great rival Joe Frazier in 1975 became known as the "Thrilla in Manila."